In October of the seventh year of Yongli, with the release of Xu Degong, Fujian officialdom and even the Manchu court were extremely optimistic about the appeasement. Correspondingly, the work of collecting grain and wages in November was also carried out smoothly, and the officials of the Fujian Qing court, who had already made a lot of money and were all happy, let go of their hands and feet, and tried their best to go to the countryside to urge the department.

In November, when it came to the lunar month, Zheng Chenggong said that he needed to give rewards to the soldiers as the New Year was approaching, so as the "old friends" of the Zheng Group, the Qing court officials in Fujian naturally shouldered this heavy burden.

Grain, silver, copper coins, cloth, silk, porcelain, and various specialties of Fujian were continuously sent to the Zhongzuo Institute, and then transported to Guangdong, Zhejiang, Japan, Korea, Ryukyu, Dayuan, and Nanyang through the Zhongzuo Institute.

The expansion of trade is a great opportunity for the Zheng Group, for merchants from all over the world, for the handicrafts who need these goods as raw materials, and for the people associated with them. But for the Fujian people who bear one or two taels of silver per household every month and have to increase the amount during the New Year's holidays, this is ripping their flesh and drinking their blood, and the accumulated grievances are constantly superimposing, but no one knows when they will reach the zero threshold.

Fujian's conquest was well underway, and the Qing court agreed to a request to increase the number of prefectures and counties to house soldiers. Specifically, it is Wenzhou Mansion in Zhejiang, because the coastal areas of Fujian are no longer easy to divide, and the Qing court also has the intention of dispersing the strength of the Zheng Group's sailors by distance.

There is one more Wenzhou Mansion, which is a solicitation and compromise of Zheng Chenggong. At the same time, the Qing court also got another piece of information from Liu Qingtai, that is, the status and strength of Chen Kai, the governor of the four prefectures of Guangdong, in the Zheng group were much higher than their cognition, and the earlier snub was exchanged for Chen Kai's obstruction in secret, and it is said that Zheng Chenggong has always attached great importance to Chen Kai's opinions, and the Qing court also made a gesture of winning over high-ranking officials in order to ensure the smooth progress of the appeasement.

On the thirteenth day of the first month of the eighth year of Yongli, Zheng Kuna, Zaqine, and other central officials of the Qing Inner Court praised and canonized Zheng Chenggong as the seal of Haicheng Gong and arrived in Fuzhou. Fujian Governor Tong Guoqi sent Li De to the Zhongzuo Office to inform Zheng Chenggong on the basis of the message of Liu Qingtai, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang.

The arrival of the edict envoy of the Qing court means that the Qing Zheng Discussion has entered the most substantial stage. According to the process, the Qing court read out the edict, Zheng Chenggong received the order to thank him, and the Duke of Zhangguo will completely become the Duke of Haicheng, just like signing a contract. And then, it is nothing more than bargaining on some details, but the big terms of the reduction take effect, and the rest is additional.

On the third day of February, the two sides agreed to meet on Langqi Island, which is adjacent to the capital city of Fuzhou. For this reason, after receiving the news, Zheng Chenggong sent Chang Shouning and Li De of the Chinese army to Fuzhou to meet the envoy. A few days later, the Qing court's edict envoys, Zheng Kuna, Zaqine and other officials from the inner court, landed on the island, and Zheng Chenggong personally greeted them at the wharf. However, compared with what was mentioned during the discussion between the two sides, there was one more Chen Kai on the side of the Ming army, and there was always a yin and yang weird smile on his face, which lingered in their hearts.

"It turns out that this is Chen Fujun, and he really has an extraordinary appearance. This time, the Son of Heaven issued a holy decree to appease the soldiers and horses of the Haicheng Prince's Office, and the official also brought the Son of Heaven to Chen Fujun's appointment and reward. Originally, he planned to go to Chaozhou after the edict was announced, and this time Chen Fujun was able to come with Haicheng Gong, which shows that God is willing to promote this harmony. ”

Zheng Kuna said politely, Chen Kai looked at him, but he seemed to ask back mockingly: "What position did your emperor promise this official", but it was not polite to say it, and it always sounded ill-intentioned.

Earlier, Liu Qingtai and Tong Guoqi reminded them that Chen Kai in the Zheng group seems to be a representative of the main battle faction. At this point, the Qing court had already instructed them to do things first before they came, and as for whether Chen Kai was forced to submit to the Qing court in the future, or whether the Zheng group split, this was just a good thing for the Qing court.

"The Son of Heaven Long En is mighty, and Chen Fujun is specially appointed as the governor of Zhejiang, and the left waiter of the military department and the left deputy capital of the Imperial Envoy of the Metropolitan Inspection Yuan...... In addition, the emperor learned that Chen Fujun's ancestral home was Datong, and specially instructed to restore the industry. It's just that there are so many specific ones, and Datong can't find out anymore, so I have to ask Chen Fujun to write a good note Chen, and the official will send it to the imperial court. ”

In order to forbear for the time being, the matter of the slaughter of Datong is naturally still Dolgon's back to carry the black cauldron. Even the appointment and reward above the Qing court also moved his mind - Chen Kai was the governor of the four prefectures of Zhangquan and Chaohui in the Ming court, and the Qing court did not intend to continue to stay on this temporary assignment, so it was not sincere, but the governor of Fujian could not rest assured, and the governor of Guangdong estimated that Chen Kai would not agree, so he promised the governor of Zhejiang, where there was a full city and garrisoned eight banners, even if Chen Kai had different aspirations, he would not make any trouble; And the compensation for that piece of family property is even more at the mercy of Chen Kai, which is completely a posture that Chen Kai will give as much as the Qing court wants.

The Qing court was full of sincerity when he asked himself, and Chen Kai naturally understood it, but he just said the words "enough for the book" and stopped talking, letting Zheng Chenggong walk with them.

With a solid family background and full preparation, Zheng Kuna and the others were speechless as soon as they came up. After a small victory, they followed Zheng Chenggong to the official office. According to the agreement, they will read the edict there, in fact, Zheng Chenggong has already prepared the incense plan there, and when they arrive, they can receive the edict according to the agreed.

Along the way, Chen Kai didn't say a word, just accompanied him. Until he arrived at the official office, Zheng Chenggong was ready to receive the edict, but this time, Zheng Kuna and others said that they would not immediately announce the edict.

"Haicheng Gong, shaving your hair and making it easy to wear is the Qing Dynasty system, please shave your hair first, and then the official will announce the edict, and just after the edict, you will be given an official uniform."

Outside the customs, shaving hair and making it easy to wear was the law strictly practiced by the Qing court. At the beginning of entering the customs, because Dashun and Nanming were still alive, the northern gentry and people strongly opposed, and the Qing court once canceled the shaving of hair and easy clothes, but when Li Zicheng fled to Huguang and died, and when they went to Nanjing without a fight, and destroyed the Hongguang Dynasty, those Manchurian magnates who were swollen in their hearts once again sacrificed the evil method of shaving their hair and making it easy to wear.

At that time, the Qing court was devastated, and it could also be passed on in various places, but as soon as the shaving order came out, the rebellion swept all over the country, and the Lu Jian Dynasty and the Longwu Dynasty were supported by the gentry of Jiangsu and Zhejiang and the warlords of Fujian during this period.

The Qing court did not cancel the shaving order at that time, and now it will not make an exception for Zheng Chenggong alone. Zheng Kuna looked at Zheng Chenggong and the civil and military officials under Zheng Chenggong's command wearing the official palace of the Ming Court and tying their hair, which was naturally a matter of implementing this principle. Who knows, Zheng Chenggong, who has always been easy to talk about appeasement, and even released Xu Degong without bargaining, shook his head after hesitating for a moment, saying that he would "ask Gu Shu to play on his own". To put it bluntly, it is to accept the order first, and then continue to bargain with the Qing court, and wait until you are satisfied before shaving your hair.

"Duke Haicheng must know that shaving his hair and changing clothes is absolutely impossible for the imperial court to change!"

Zheng Kuna shouted loudly, and Zaqine, who was traveling with him, hurriedly pulled him, and then explained to Zheng Chenggong, hoping that Zheng Chenggong could act according to the system of the Qing court. It's a pity that Zheng Chenggong is still unwilling to compromise on this, and strongly expresses that he is full of sincerity in the process of appeasement this time, and the Qing court should be considerate as appropriate.

The two sides were at loggerheads, Zheng Kuna said that he refused to read out the edict, but Za Qine's afterglow swept to the trace of self-satisfaction on Chen Kai's face, so he expressed his hope to Zheng Chenggong that he would consider Yunyun again, and temporarily separate the entanglement here.

"It must be that Chen Kai who is getting in the way!"

This is the unanimous opinion of the two, since Zheng Chenggong was allowed to consider it for himself, they did not leave Langqi Island immediately, but stayed for the time being. However, they already knew the weight of Chen Kai's identity and status in this Zheng group, and Zheng Chenggong was still like this the next day, so they had to condescend to visit Chen Kai.

"Sincerity?"

Hearing the meaning, Chen Kai scoffed at Zazine's words, and then said to his people: "The price offered by your country is indeed quite exciting, but the official has traveled thousands of miles south, and the hardships he has gone through along the way can be smoothed out by a little promotion of his official position and money?" ”

"Then what Chen Fujun needs, this official can also apply to the imperial court for Chen Fujun."

Zazine patiently spoke, in fact, if it were not for the Qing court's strict order to deal with this matter, he would not have come to compromise with a Han Chinese. However, Chen Kai only shook his head at this, saying that if they could persuade Zheng Chenggong, with Zheng Chenggong's kindness to him, he would follow him to the Qing court, but if he couldn't be convinced, don't talk about the rest, he didn't have that idle time.

"Sending off guests."

………………

"Sure enough, it's this Chen Kai!"

Back at the post house, Zaqine repeated Chen Kai's original words, and Zheng Kuna slapped him on the table. It stands to reason that if the soft one doesn't work, it will naturally come hard, and assassination is the best way, but now this is the territory of the Zheng group, and they didn't expect this earlier. What's more, not to mention whether it can really be done, just say that if Chen Kai is assassinated now, the result will definitely be a situation of peace, and the generals of the Zheng group will see that the Qing court cannot tolerate Chen Kai, so they will naturally fight with the Qing court to the end.

"It's still the son-in-law of the Zheng family who hates this surnamed Chen, who really touched him, it is estimated that even Zheng Hongkui will have to work hard."

Sighing, there was really nothing to do, Zheng Kuna immediately brought up an old matter: "At the beginning, the imperial court decided to appease, and King Pingnan pointed out that Hao Shangjiu had two ambitions, and at that time, the imperial court did not agree to attack the surnamed Hao for fear of startling the snake. Now it seems that if he really does it, Haicheng Gong will definitely be dragged into the battle by this Chen Kai, and what will he talk about at that time. ”

"If that's the case, if you don't talk about it, you won't talk about it, and the court won't say anything. It's good now, but it's hard for the two of us. ”

"Hey."

With a sigh, the two of them had no choice but to continue to struggle with Zheng Chenggong about whether to shave their hair first or announce the edict first. As a result, for five days, the two sides argued, so Zheng Kuna and Zaqiner simply didn't bother and went home directly, only saying that Zheng Chenggong would explain to the Qing court on his own.

Speaking of what happened in Langqi, Fuzhou knows a little bit. Liu Qingtai and Tong Guoqi didn't expect to be stuck on this, but they always felt that this was just a symptom, so they sent someone to try to investigate it. When Zheng Kuna and Zaqiner returned from their trip, they forcibly kept them for a few days, and the people who sent them out finally gave a reasonable explanation.

Zheng Hongkui said that his son-in-law was dissatisfied with the appeasement, but the key is that there are indeed many generals in the army who are also dissatisfied with the appeasement. Now these people are expressing their emotions to Haicheng Gong through Chen Kai, and Haicheng Gong wants to take care of the army's heart, so they find a question about the order of shaving their hair and announcing the edict. ”

Zheng Hongkui naturally wouldn't say that, repeating the original words, Liu Qingtai and others couldn't hear what it meant. It's just that this is also the biggest problem, Zheng Chenggong definitely doesn't want to fall apart like his father when he descended to the Qing Dynasty, so he can only compromise with Chen Kai to appease the generals. Otherwise, Chen Kai has no ambition, and the uncompromising generals will break away on their own; If Chen Kai is ambitious, with his connections and ability to control eastern Guangdong for many years, it is not a problem to pull up a vote for the Ming army to go it alone.

"It's hateful that Chen Kai still has the official position of governor of the puppet dynasty, and he has the right to control the local generals......"

The Ming army split itself, which was what the Qing court was willing to see. But now it is clear that Chen Kai and Zheng Chenggong have a tacit understanding, and it is impossible to separate the family, but the matter of appeasement will inevitably drag on.

"If this official is not mistaken, it won't be long before the Duke of Haicheng will ask the imperial court for more prefectures and counties to install his generals."

In Liu Qingtai's view, since Zheng Chenggong wants to appease the generals, he must come up with more resources to allocate them. Only in this way can we ensure that these generals will always be on his side.

However, Zheng Chenggong will definitely not come out of these things, in the final analysis, the Qing court still has to buy it, Zheng Hongkui did say that he would persuade Zheng Chenggong and Chen Kai, but even this is not only Zheng Chenggong's own uncle, but also Chen Kai's father-in-law Lao Taishan, such a well-known and powerful "Lord and faction" seems to be able to persuade the possibility of success is very small, in the final analysis, it is still because the generals who oppose the appeasement are not small, whether it is Chen Kai and Zheng Chenggong, they cannot but pay attention to it.

With nothing to do for the time being, Zheng Kuna and Zaqine and his entourage set off to return to the capital, leaving only Liu Qingtai and his local lords to continue to worry about it.

In the center, the Qing court's edict envoy left Langqi, and Chen Kai and Zheng Chenggong also returned here. The two of them were still a little tense along the way, until they saw Zheng Hongkui in Zheng Chenggong's study, and they couldn't hold back anymore.

"The fourth uncle's words are just right, and let the Tartar think of the rest."

"If there was no father-in-law to dress up with this red face, the white face of the son-in-law would not be so prominent. Now, the Tartar is probably angry to death. ”

Zheng Chenggong and Chen Kai's repeated praises, Zheng Hongkui directly put the credit on the two, and he himself was just a little exerted, nothing more. It's just that it's enough to toss around, but Zheng Hongkui, who has long been out of the world, still seems a little uncertain about the actual effect.

"Don't hide it from the fourth uncle, this time I made a fake peace with the Tartars, and after a few months, gold, silver, and copper coins were converted into silver, and a total of 7.66 million taels were collected, and the grain also had more than 1 million stones. And that's not even counting the appraisals of cloth, silk, porcelain, and other goods. Let's put it this way, the rebate alone cost more than four million taels of silver! ”